What Do These Five Successful Plus Size Models Have In Common?

As we all know, the great debate between the labeling of models according to their size continues. While there are many on the fence about the actual term “plus-sized”, the fact of the matter remains that the average American woman is a size 14 or higher which means, no shade to my smaller sisters, that we need to start seeing more and more women that look like us in mainstream advertising. While strides in the modeling industry have been made and are continuing to be made there is a new group who seeks to represent beauty without divisions with a goal to explore opportunities without labeling; this group is ALDA. ALDA, whose name in Icelandic means “wave” aims to use their resources in the fashion community to empower women by helping to break barriers and also works with young women to promote healthy self-esteem.

ALDA was formed by a group of plus-sized models who banded together to take on the fashion world by storm after Ford Models NY Plus-size division last summer shut down. Plus models Inga Eiriksdottir, Ashley Graham, Marquita Pring, Danielle Redmon & Julie Henderson “set out to see what could be done beyond industry standards linked to the “curvaceous”, “voluptuous” and “sexy” plus-size model.” All of these models have been recently signed to IMG Models who represent superstar straight sized models such as Gisele Bündchen and who has combined its plus-sized board of models with its straight-sized board. According to the market researching company the NDP Group, the demand for plus sized fashions, sizes 14 and up has increased 7 percent in the last year, totaling $17.6 billion in sales and according to DNA reports, plus-agencies have begun sending more of their plus-size models for mainstream magazine editorials, ad campaigns and runway castings in recent months.

According to head of Muse Management’s Plus-division, Becca Thorpe “There will come a time when we won’t be talking about plus-size versus straight-size, older versus younger.” Thorpe told DNAinfo she believes the barriers will continue to fall.

We at Daily Venus Diva look forward to barriers falling and real change to be made, models like Ashley Graham have reported going on more castings now than ever in her modeling career and we are happy to hear that ALDA helped to host Komera’s global run fundraiser on May 29th in NYC and raised close to $50K in donations for girls in Rwanda to go to school.

Now that is what I call #curvyconfidence and #livingtoempower ladies! Let’s Go! Congratulations ALDA!

“Stay positive because you’re in this for a reason and you’re going to change somebody’s life just by being you.” – Ashley Graham

Curvy Confidence Editor, Limarie Lewis

Limarie Lewis is a Philadelphia native recording artist known as Poetikmind with her independent critically acclaimed album titled "Deep Thoughts Defined". She is a wife, stepmother, poet, writer, Sunday school teacher, administrative assistant and Plus Model with TRUE Model Management. She holds a BA in Elementary & Special Education and enjoys working with youth and empowering women of all ages to love themselves for who they are because they are fearfully and wonderfully made. www.modelmayhem.com/poetikmind

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